Clamp for electrical and other fixtures.



W. M. MEAGHAM.

CLAMP FOR ELECTRICAL AND OTHER FIXTURES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1905.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. MEAOHAM, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

CLAMP FOR ELECTRICAL AND OTHER FIXTURES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

Application filed January as, 1905. Serial No. 243,024.

In the drawings, wherein I have indicated an operative embodiment of myinvention in use in various situations; Figure 1 is a central verticalsection of my device as applied to an electrical fixture. Fig. 2 is aface View of a clamp embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection showing the application of my clamp to a lamp socket. Fig. 4 isa similar view showing the application of my clamp to a pipe.

Throughout the drawings like numerals of referencerefer always to likeparts.

In general the article of manufacture which constitutes the salientfeature of my invention consists of a plate, preferably of metal, havingan aperture therein adapted to receive a suitable article and havingteeth, preferably integral spring parts of the plate, forming a suitablepart of the edge of the aperture, and arranged to yield to enlarge theaperture wheua suitable article is passed therethrough in one'Tdirectionand to grip the article for movement therewith tending to diminish theaperture when the article is sought 'to be withdrawn through theaperture in the other direction, so that the insertion of the article ismade easy and its withdrawal difficult.

In the drawing 5 indicates a plate, preferably of' relatively thinresilient metal, and preferably of generally circular shape, havingformed at its center an aperture 6 bounded entirely or throughout asuitable substantial part of its perimeter by teeth,

preferably having sharp cutting edges, in-

clined or inclinable at an angle to the axis of the apertureperpendicular to the plane of the plate such that when an article ofsuitable size and contour is inserted through the aperture in onedirection said teeth yield outwardly to permit the ready passage of thearticle, but such that when the article is sought to be withdrawn saidteeth bite or clutch sharply upon the surface of the article to preventaxial movement of'the article relative to the teeth. Therefore, sincethe retraction of the article gripped as aforesaid would draw the springteeth in to present an aperture of less diameter than that of thearticle such axial withdrawal of the article is positively prevented.

In the specific construction shown the teeth are provided by cuttingslots 7 into the body of the metal radiating from the aperture atsuitable distances apart, to form between the slots springs 8, havingsharp edges at 9 to form teeth. Preferably the spring teeth 8 arepermanently bent adjacent their free ends to present toward an axialline through the aperture 6 perpendicular to the general plane of theplate, the sharp tooth edges 9, making the total size of the aperture 6in the completed article slightly larger than the area of the metalremoved to make the aperture 6, but slightly less than as the body ofthe plate. For .purposes of' strength Iprefer that a beading or rib 10,preferably of circular configuration be rovided upon the platesurrounding the radially outward ends of the slots 7.

The details of construction of the article described I believe to be newand p'atentable and may claim, but I desire it to be understood and haveendeavored to impress that my invention has a broader hase-susceptibleof embodiment in various orms other than that herein s ecifically shown,and I do not desire, there ore, to be understood as limiting the broaderconception of my invention to the specific device herein illustrativelyshown, advantageous though I consider its construction to be.

In Fig. 1 A indicates any suitable support having therein an aperture(1. B indicates an insulating bushing or tube comprising a stem 6 takingthrough the aperture (1 and protruding from one side thereof, and a headI) at the opposite end abutting against the edges of aperture a. Myclamp is slipped upon the protruding end of stem b until its body abutsagainst/the support A, so that the tube B may not be withdrawn directly.A screwing motion is usually necessary to detach the clamp.

In Fig. 3 A indicates a support, apertured as at a to receive the stem 0of a lamp socket C, the body whereof forms a shoulder a at the end ofthe stem. A clamp plate applied as above described to the portion of thesocket protruding through the support retains the socket in place.

In Fig. 4: A indicates a horizontal support through an aperture awherein a pipe or other article passes. A clamp applied to the pipe andresting on the support serves to suspend the pipe and act as a canopy toconcea the aperture a Other-and further uses and applications of myinvention will readily occur, and I do not intend to intimate that theuses to which I have shown the clamp applied are the only employments ofwhich devices embodying 1. As an article of manufacture, a clamp platefor electrical insulating bushings and the like, having an aperturetherein adapted to receive the bushing, integral spring teeth havingsharp edges forming part of the edge of the aperture, and a ribsurrounding the teeth.

2. In combination with a support having an aperture therein, anelectrical fixture having a stem passing therethrough, and a clamp forretaining the stem against withdrawal, comprising the disk 5, having anaperture 6 to receive the stem, teeth 8 forming the edge of saidaperture and a rib 10 surrounding the teeth 8.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I aflix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM M. MEACHAM.

In presence of GEO. T. MAY, J r., MARY F. ALLEN.

